RIL gets green nod for exploratory drilling project in Tamil Nadu

NEW DELHI: The Centre's green panel has given its nod to RIL for carrying out eight additional exploratory well drilling to ascertain reservoir capacity and commercial viability of hydrocarbons in the block CY-III-D5 in Bay of Bengal off the coast of Tamil Nadu.

Reliance Industries has been awarded exploratory rights for hydrocarbons prospecting in the offshore block DY-III-D5 under the New Exploration Licensing Policy-III. RIL has already been given the environment clearance to drill 11 exploratory wells in this block. As on date, the company has drilled nine wells and discovered hydrocarbons in three wells.

Since seismic data and the drilling campaign shows presence of hydrocarbons in the block, RIL is planning to carry out eight additional exploratory well drilling to establish the reservoir capacity in this block.

"In a recent meeting, the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Environment Ministry examined the proposal. After detailed deliberations, the committee recommended the project for environment clearance," a senior government official said.

The Committee has recommended the Ministry to give final clearance to RIL's project subject to certain specific and general conditions, the official added.

Among key conditions specified, the Panel has suggested the company to ensure gas produced during the testing should be flared with appropriate flaring booms. The flare system should be designed as per good oil field practices and oil industry safety directorate guidelines.

The company should ensure that there is no impact on flora and fauna due to drilling of wells in the offshore sea. It should undertake conservation measures to protect the marine animals/biota in the region.

The company should monitor the petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals concentration in the marine fish species regularly and submit report to the government.

Among others, the Panel suggested that all the hazardous waste generated at the rig/offshore facility should be properly treated, transported to on shore and disposed of in accordance with the norms.

Reliance entered the exploration and production business by becoming a 30 per cent partner in an unincorporated joint venture with British Gas and RIL in the Panna Mukta and Mid and South Tapti blocks.

Besides Panna Mukta and Tapti (PMT) blocks, their domestic portfolio comprises of five conventional oil and gas blocks in Krishna Godavari, Mahanadi, Cauvery Palar, Gujarat Saurashtra and Cambay Basin and two Coal Bed Methane (CBM) blocks in Sohagpur East and West in Madhya Pradesh. The company also has blocks in overseas.

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The ongoing field development and EOR/IOR projects are expected to produce a cumulative of 54.6 million tonne (mt) of crude oil and 114 billion cubic meter (bcm) of natural gas in the next three to four years, the report said.